)
Energy retailer Amber Electric has secured a $13.6 million top-up from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to scale its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot to 1,000, making it the largest residential V2G rollout in Australia.
The expansion brings total ARENA funding for the project to $16.8 million and builds on strong early results from Amber's initial 50-charger trial with EV manufacturer BYD, giving more Australian households the ability to turn their EVs into "batteries on wheels".
V2G technology enables electric vehicles to discharge stored energy back into the grid during periods of peak demand, effectively turning parked cars into mobile batteries.
An EV can store 5.5 times more energy than a typical home battery, and Amber claims one South Australian customer earned $500 in a single afternoon during a heatwave by exporting power from their vehicle.
The company says close to 6,000 Australians have joined the waitlist for V2G, and estimates participants can save up to $2,500 a year through a combination of cheaper wholesale charging and earnings from feeding energy back into the grid.
BYD is the confirmed vehicle manufacturer for the expanded trial, with its Atto 3 and other V2G-capable models eligible for participation. Amber also has flagged it is looking to bring other car manufacturers into the program.
Amber co-CEO Chris Thompson says the expansion signals that V2G in Australia has moved from "promise to reality".
“Our initial rollout proved it works," says Thompson.
"One thousand proves it scales. We’ve already seen a South Australian customer earn $500 in a single afternoon during a heatwave, customers can now save thousands annually through V2G.
"This expansion positions Australia as a world leader in V2G, and we see a future where millions of Australians buying EVs in the next few years can do the same.
"Unlike other V2G plans that require minimum plug-in time and offer fixed price tariffs, Amber combines wholesale energy with smart automation so customers can earn the full value from their exports, power their homes through vehicle-to-home technology, and retain complete control."
ARENA CEO Darren Miller says the agency's long-term ambition is to see one million V2G-enabled electric vehicles on Australian roads by 2035, a target he describes as achievable if warranty barriers and interoperability challenges are resolved.
“To unlock V2G at scale, we need to bring together customers, car makers, networks and technology providers," says Miller.
"A big part of that is giving manufacturers the confidence their vehicles will perform as expected, including through validated approaches to battery use and warranties.
“This project brings those pieces together to demonstrate how EVs can become an active part of the energy system. That means savings for owners and better utilisation of the grid, which can bring down the cost of the network for everyone.”
Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio says the expansion will deliver system-wide benefits beyond individual savings.
“One EV stores five and a half times more energy than a typical home battery," says Delvecchio.
"The best part? It’s not just the people plugged in who benefit - it’s the whole system.
"When thousands of EVs feed power back at peak times, it puts downward pressure on costs for everyone, whether you’re in the trial or not.”
Amber plans to use the expanded trial to refine its platform ahead of a commercial V2G product launch in 2026.
The company, which gives customers access to wholesale electricity prices and uses software to automate charging and discharging around price signals, has become Australia’s largest residential solar and battery automation providers.
Last year Amber secured $10 million in fresh capital, supported by UK energy supplier E.ON Next UK, to ramp up its global ambitions to transition consumers to renewable power.
)
